President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah over the past weekend inaugurated the Ohangwena Times Square Shopping Complex in Helao Nafidi, a border town in northern Namibia, according to a report by CAJ News Africa. The complex, described by the President as an important commercial gateway, is expected to play a key role in boosting cross-border trade with neighboring Angola, which shares a 1,376km border with Namibia and is a fellow member of the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Speaking at the ceremony, President Nandi-Ndaitwah described Helao Nafidi as one of Namibia's important border communities and a symbol of perseverance, opportunity and nation-building. She highlighted Ohangwena's strategic location along the border as an opportunity to expand cross-border trade, emphasizing the complex's potential as a commercial gateway. "The complex can become an important commercial gateway, connecting Namibian entrepreneurs and producers to wider Angolan markets," she said, as reported by CAJ News Africa.
The President called for the complex to allocate space for locally produced goods, including fresh produce, and underscored agriculture as a national priority. "Creating markets for local producers is essential to growing the economy and generating employment," she said. She further encouraged local and international investors to explore opportunities in Ohangwena and other parts of the country, prioritising investments that create sustainable employment, support local businesses, facilitate skills and technology transfer, and strengthen domestic industries. The report notes that the border town is undergoing a revival after a lull caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, at the same ceremony, Ohangwena Regional Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa delivered her own message of investment readiness. As reported by Informanté, Hamutumwa described the complex as "more than just commercial infrastructure" and "a statement of confidence in Helao Nafidi, in Ohangwena and in the future of Namibia." She declared, "Our message is clear: Ohangwena is open for business. To investors, entrepreneurs and the private sector: come to Ohangwena. Come and invest, build, create jobs and grow with us."
Governor Hamutumwa highlighted the Ohangwena Regional Investment Map and Action Plan as the region's strategic roadmap to unlock its potential. She noted that the plan identifies competitive advantages, priority sectors and investment opportunities to turn potential into sustainable economic growth, though details of the plan were not specified in her public remarks. Hamutumwa also acknowledged the President's and central government's commitment to development, investment, job creation and improved livelihoods, evidenced by the president's presence, and she thanked the Helao Nafidi Town Council, past and present, for their role in the project. She paid special tribute to former Chief Executive Officer of the Town Council, Inge Iipinge, whom she credited with the development taking shape during her tenure.
She further thanked the developer, investors and the business community for their confidence in the border town, and she acknowledged Namibia's cooperation with the People's Republic of China, stating that the partnership continues to support investment, infrastructure development and economic growth. Her conclusion was an assurance to the President that the region is ready for investment, adding, "The opportunities are here. The time to invest is now," as quoted by Informer.
Both accounts, though centered on the same inauguration, present divergent overarching angles in their framing: one focuses on the international, cross-border trade dynamics, while the other dwells on the domestic investment invitation. The presence of the complex itself, while risky, is noted in the reports and in the sentiments of the speakers. The inauguration discourse encapsulates the dual visions of the Northern border areas of Namibia: a potential gateway to regional and African markets, and an emerging internal hub for domestic businesses and skills development.
Observers might note that while the President's remarks carry a strong continental trade and integration flavor, the Governor's optimistic pro-enterprise speech provides a more localised, investment-oriented outlook. nonetheless, both reflect a shared sense that the time is ripe to revitalise Helao Nafidi.